Punky Manor Challenge of Champions
Brad Erickson
September 25, 2022, Menomonie, Wisconsin, the Red Cedar Speedway presented the Punky Manor Challenge of Champions, and it truly was a challenge! There was outstanding racing, but it took three days to get the two-day show in. Friday night they ran the heats in five WISSOTA classes and literally finished as the rains began to fall. A decision was made to start several hours earlier on Saturday in hopes to get the show in before the rain fell again. They were able to complete the B Features and the Street Stock main, but the rain started again after the first lap of the Midwest Modified feature. The races were once again called for weather. They returned on Sunday in the afternoon to finish the features and weather was excellent, as was the racing.
Winners included no repeaters from earlier in the weekend with the Duane Mahder 55, but it was a very popular win when Chad Mahder, Duane’s son, topped the Punky Manor Challenge of Champions Late Model feature, a very prestigious win indeed. Kevin Adams, Tommy Richards, Jay Richardson, and Andrew Hanson each notched the big win in their respective division too. There was also a drawing for a MB Customs Modified after tickets were sold all season long, which was won by Travis Anderson.
The Late Model feature was lined up by passing points and all of the heats were won from the front row as Jesse Glenz, AJ Diemel, Greg Nippoldt, and Chad Mahder each topped their races. The B Feature was won by James Giossi as Nick Anvelink, Lance Matthees, Jeff Massingill, Sam Mars, John Kaanta, Harry Hanson, and Nick Panitzke all raced their way in through the same.
AJ Diemel took the early lead of the feature off of the green and Jesse Glenz charged early into second on lap three. On lap seven Chad Mahder moved into third. A quick yellow for a spin slowed the race, and on the restart, it was Mahder into second and Jimmy Mars into third as Diemel continued to lead. Another caution, this time for debris on lap 18 tightened the field again. It was Mars to second on the restart, but another caution for a spin reset the field before the lap was scored. They tried again and Mars took second another time but just like before, there was another spin which negated the pass. On the third attempt, Mahder held the position.
They raced shortly under green, and a spin slowed the action. On the restart, this time Mars passed Mahder for second and it stuck. As he chased Diemel for the lead, Mahder ran Mars back down. Three laps after Mars had earned the runner up position, Mahder drove below him and back into second. Diemel had led the entire race, leaving all of the action to happen behind him, but he jumped the cushion in turn one and Mahder took advantage and grabbed the lead for the first lead change in the event. Mars was also able to follow him through into second.
Greg Nippoldt cracked into the top five as laps were winding down. Diemel was able to catch Mars and challenged for second by leaving the rubbered down groove and attempt to pass on the outside. As the two battled, Nelson was able to drive under both into second position. They all chased for the win as Mahder flashed under the checkered flag for a popular win. Nelson came from ninth to finish second over Diemel, Mars, and Nippoldt in fifth. Jake Redetzke, Rick Hanestad, Mark Hessler, Jayme Lautigar, and Jesse Glenz each earned top ten finishes.
At Mod Time, it was Jake Hartung and Shane Halopka winning heats from second as Darrell Nelson came from fourth and AJ Diemel won from the pole. B Feature action was won by Paul Harelstad as Kerry Hansen, Pat Hoffman, Kaden Blaeser, Bill Byholm, Adam Ayotte, Danny Thomas, and Hunter Anderson raced their way in through the same.
Derrell Nelson used his pole starting position to quickly move to the Modified feature lead. The inside row appeared to have an extensive advantage as the outside line, less Kevin Adams, dropped back in the field immediately. A caution flag flew on lap three and the field was reset. Again, the inside line had a huge advantage, and no one other than Adams could make ground up high. On lap six, Adams used the ultra-high line to move past Nelson for the point. The race continued under green, and Adams led the way to the feature win over Nelson.
AJ Diemel finished third over Jake Hartung and Mike Anderson made a last lap pass to finish fifth. Ashley Anderson, Shane Halopka, Mark Hanson, 20th starting Kaden Blaeser, and Kerry Hansen drove home in the top ten.
The Super Stocks saw major passing in its heats as Tommy Richards won from seventh, Kyle Copp and Terran Spacek both won from sixth, and Jesse Redetzke topped them all coming from eighth. The B Feature advanced the winner, Ron Mahder, along with Andrew Davis, John Adams, Mike Siewert, Rich Bishop, Rick Kobs, Joe Miller, and Jason Quarders to the feature.
It was Redetzke leading the feature on the start, but the action was slowed early by a crash involving seven cars, eliminating at least Jim Harris. A series of cautions kept the action close and on lap four, Tommy Richards moved to the lead down low. One lap later, another caution saw the end of Redetzke’s day.
Richards led Terran Spacek and Kyle Copp and as they closed on lap traffic, a lap car slowed coming off of turn two and moved into the infield. It trapped Richards and Spacek sprung on the opportunity and moved to the lead. Richards drove hard to catch Spacek and with an aggressive move, retook the lead in turn one. Spacek chased the leader and himself was able to move inside Richards and make a serious bid for the point. Richards was able to hold onto the lead and on the final lap, Spacek pulled even once again as the two raced to the checkered flag. Richards was able to pull ahead by a nose and won a spectacular race over Spacek in second.
Brandon Duellman made a late race push and finished third after starting 11th. Kyle Copp and Eric Olson rounded out the top five. Ron Mahder came out of the B Feature and raced from 17th to sixth as Wayne Dean, Andrew Mackey, Brandon Clemens, and Chad Johnson rounded out the top ten.
The Midwest Modified heats saw Shadow Kitchner winning from the outside of the front row as Jay Richardson finished second from eighth, earning him the pole in the main event. Kennedy Swan won from fourth, and Travis Anderson and Tanner Gehl both won their heats from the pole. The two B Features qualified winner Cody Carlson, Steve Haas, Justin Bassa, and Tommy Richards along with winner Jason Vokovan, Matt Klukas, Antonio Pintaro, and Kevin Adams.
The feature completed one lap with Jay Richardson in the lead when a caution slowed the pace, and the rains began to fall. The rain would not relent, and the night of racing was called due to weather. They came back Sunday afternoon and lined up with 19 laps remaining.
The restart-start saw Kennedy Swan move past Richardson for the lead as Shadow Kitchner followed her through into second as Richardson had pushed up the raceway in turn two. As the pack was racing back to the line on the front stretch, there was a multi car spin which eliminated the strong cars of Cody Carlson, Tommy Richards, and Reese Schlosser. This time on the restart, Richardson made the correction and led off of the green.
Richardson continued to lead the way until on lap 12, Swan, who one year ago became the youngest and only female feature winner in the Punky Manor Challenge of Champions history, drove past Richardson for the point. She led at the line, but Richardson retook the position in turns one and two on the next lap. Swan tried again with three laps remaining and was able to nose ahead, but again Richardson was able to regain the lead with two laps to go. It was Richardson over Swan for his first ever invitational win in his 38-year racing career.
Cody Borgeson finished third after being harassed by fourth finishing Travis Anderson for several laps. Tony Bahr raced from 16th to fifth as Shadow Kitchner, Tanner Gehl, Kyle Kirberger, William Moelter, and Derek Haas finished in the top ten.
The Street Stocks were the only class to complete their division action on Saturday’s portion. The heats were both won from the front row as Kolby Kiehl won from the pole and Andrew Hanson from the outside of the front row. Passing points placed Hanson on the pole and he used the starting position to drive into the lead and never look back all the way to the checkered flag as he led every circuit. There were two cautions to slow the action, but they never affected the winner.
Nick Traynor chased Hanson, particularly late, but settled for second as Kolby Kiehl finished third and Gunnar Watkins returned to racing to finish fourth. Cole Richards raced from 14th to grab the fifth spot and Alex Myers, James Clausen, Joseph Ott, Dylan Baskin, and Eric Haupt rounded out the top ten.
The Red Cedar Speedway has completed its 2022 season and will return to racing in the spring of 2023.
WISSOTA Late Model Feature (40 Laps): 1. 55C-Chad Mahder[5]; 2. 44-Darrell Nelson[9]; 3. 58-AJ Diemel[1]; 4. 28M-Jimmy Mars[7]; 5. 55N-Greg Nippoldt[2]; 6. 27-Jake Redetzke[8]; 7. 71-Rick Hanestad[3]; 8. 13-Mark Hessler[13]; 9. 54L-Jayme Lautigar[10]; 10. 7X-Jesse Glenz[4]; 11. 90-Lance Matthees[19]; 12. 71JR-Buddy Hanestad[6]; 13. 7-Harry Hanson[23]; 14. 173-Andy Jones[15]; 15. 28-Sam Mars[21]; 16. 85-John Kaanta[22]; 17. 89-Nick Panitzke[24]; 18. 34-Jordan Langer[25]; 19. (DNF) 6M-Jeff Massingill[20]; 20. (DNF) 54-Rick Niemi[11]; 21. (DNF) 29F-Dave Flynn[12]; 22. (DNF) 30-Kevin Burdick[14]; 23. (DNF) 7C-Jim Carlson[16]; 24. (DNF) 28G-James Giossi[17]; 25. (DNF) 15-Nick Anvelink[18]
B Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 28G-James Giossi[1]; 2. 15-Nick Anvelink[6]; 3. 90-Lance Matthees[2]; 4. 6M-Jeff Massingill[8]; 5. 28-Sam Mars[5]; 6. 85-John Kaanta[7]; 7. 7-Harry Hanson[3]; 8. 89-Nick Panitzke[10]; 9. 65-Jake Miller[11]; 10. 14-Robbie Johnson[13]; 11. 92-Aaron Wilson[12]; 12. 34-Jordan Langer[16]; 13. (DNS) 22E-Kevin Eder; 14. (DNS) 11-Pat Doar; 15. (DNS) 31-Travis Budisalovich; 16. (DNS) 96-Ashley Anderson; 17. (DNS) 21-Mike Bellefeuille
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 7X-Jesse Glenz[1]; 2. 44-Darrell Nelson[3]; 3. 54-Rick Niemi[2]; 4. 13-Mark Hessler[6]; 5. 22E-Kevin Eder[5]; 6. 28-Sam Mars[8]; 7. 11-Pat Doar[9]; 8. 96-Ashley Anderson[4]; 9. (DNS) 21-Mike Bellefeuille
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 58-AJ Diemel[2]; 2. 71JR-Buddy Hanestad[4]; 3. 27-Jake Redetzke[7]; 4. 173-Andy Jones[3]; 5. 28G-James Giossi[6]; 6. 15-Nick Anvelink[8]; 7. 89-Nick Panitzke[5]; 8. 14-Robbie Johnson[1]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 55N-Greg Nippoldt[2]; 2. 28M-Jimmy Mars[4]; 3. 54L-Jayme Lautigar[1]; 4. 30-Kevin Burdick[5]; 5. 90-Lance Matthees[6]; 6. 85-John Kaanta[8]; 7. 65-Jake Miller[7]; 8. 31-Travis Budisalovich[3]
Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. 55C-Chad Mahder[1]; 2. 71-Rick Hanestad[5]; 3. 29F-Dave Flynn[2]; 4. 7C-Jim Carlson[3]; 5. 7-Harry Hanson[6]; 6. 6M-Jeff Massingill[4]; 7. 92-Aaron Wilson[7]; 8. 34-Jordan Langer[8]
WISSOTA Modified Feature (30 Laps): 1. 40-Kevin Adams[7]; 2. 44-Darrell Nelson[1]; 3. 89-AJ Diemel[5]; 4. 05-Jake Hartung[3]; 5. 57-Mike Anderson[6]; 6. 81-Ashley Anderson[10]; 7. 3JR-Shane Halopka[4]; 8. 18-Mark Hanson[2]; 9. 43K-Kaden Blaeser[20]; 10. 25-Kerry Hansen[18]; 11. 22T-Michael Truscott[14]; 12. 4A-Hunter Anderson[24]; 13. W-Cory Williams[16]; 14. 14-Brad Johnson[25]; 15. T40-Danny Thomas[23]; 16. (DNF) 55M-Cory Mahder[9]; 17. (DNF) 21-Jake Smith[12]; 18. (DNF) 10-Daniel Bargender[15]; 19. (DNF) 1-Paul Harelstad[17]; 20. (DNF) 71-AJ Roschen[13]; 21. (DNF) 44H-Adam Hensel[11]; 22. (DNF) 308-Pat Hoffman[19]; 23. (DNS) 11-Jody Bellefeuille; 24. (DNS) 4-Bill Byholm; 25. (DNS) 04JR-Adam Ayotte [6]; 9. 80-Derek Haas[9]; 10. 55-Taylor Olson[14]; 11. 27H-Steve Hallquist[17]; 12. 99-Mark Kangas[11]; 13. 78-Brent Prochnow[12]; 14. 14-Brad Johnson[15]; 15. M20-Thomas Mittlestadt[16]; 16. 3-Tyler Stargardt[13]; 17. (DNF) 38-Zach Gibson[10]
WISSOTA Super Stock Feature (25 Laps): 1. 7R-Tommy Richards[2]; 2. 22T-Terran Spacek[4]; 3. 0-Brandon Duellman[11]; 4. 26-Kyle Copp[3]; 5. 1E-Eric Olson[12]; 6. 55-Ron Mahder[17]; 7. 1776-Wayne Dean[5]; 8. 7-Andrew Mackey[9]; 9. 71-Brandon Clemens[6]; 10. 25-Chad Johnson[8]; 11. 10-Rich Bishop[21]; 12. 20*-Andrew Davis[18]; 13. 100-John Adams[19]; 14. 21-Mike Siewert[20]; 15. 87-Kenneth Davis[14]; 16. 77*-Josh Saunders[16]; 17. 28-Jason Quarders[24]; 18. 14L-Dylan Leu[25]; 19. 22JR-Ben Hillman[7]; 20. (DNF) 34-Joe Miller[23]; 21. (DNF) 207-Jesse Redetzke[1]; 22. (DNF) 14X-Leslie Leu[15]; 23. (DNF) 12K-Duane (DJ) Keeler[10]; 24. (DNF) 8-Jim Harris[13]; 25. (DNS) 1-Rick Kobs
B Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 55-Ron Mahder[5]; 2. 20*-Andrew Davis[4]; 3. 100-John Adams[1]; 4. 21-Mike Siewert[6]; 5. 10-Rich Bishop[8]; 6. 1-Rick Kobs[14]; 7. 34-Joe Miller[13]; 8. 28-Jason Quarders[7]; 9. 77-Wayne Bignell[10]; 10. 4-Robert Holmstrom Jr[9]; 11. 18B-Dean Butler[11]; 12. (DNF) 14L-Dylan Leu[2]; 13. (DNF) 82-Paul Gucinski[12]; 14. (DNS) 15-Jonathan Dachel; 15. (DNS) F3-Rick Friendt; 16. (DNS) 72-Bruce Lutz
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 7R-Tommy Richards[7]; 2. 22JR-Ben Hillman[3]; 3. 1776-Wayne Dean[8]; 4. 87-Kenneth Davis[1]; 5. 14L-Dylan Leu[6]; 6. 10-Rich Bishop[5]; 7. 77-Wayne Bignell[4]; 8. 34-Joe Miller[2]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 26-Kyle Copp[6]; 2. 25-Chad Johnson[3]; 3. 71-Brandon Clemens[7]; 4. 77*-Josh Saunders[2]; 5. 8-Jim Harris[8]; 6. 21-Mike Siewert[1]; 7. 18B-Dean Butler[4]; 8. 72-Bruce Lutz[5]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 22T-Terran Spacek[6]; 2. 7-Andrew Mackey[2]; 3. 1E-Eric Olson[4]; 4. 14X-Leslie Leu[1]; 5. 20*-Andrew Davis[5]; 6. 55-Ron Mahder[7]; 7. 4-Robert Holmstrom Jr[8]; 8. 1-Rick Kobs[3]
Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. 207-Jesse Redetzke[8]; 2. 12K-Duane (DJ) Keeler[2]; 3. 0-Brandon Duellman[5]; 4. 100-John Adams[3]; 5. F3-Rick Friendt[1]; 6. 28-Jason Quarders[4]; 7. 82-Paul Gucinski[6]; 8. 15-Jonathan Dachel[7]
WISSOTA Midwest Modified Feature (20 Laps): 1. R1-Jay Richardson[1]; 2. 18S-Kennedy Swan[2]; 3. B37-Cody Borgeson[4]; 4. 37-Travis Anderson[5]; 5. QQ-Tony Bahr[16]; 6. 68-Shadow Kitchner[3]; 7. 2G-Tanner Gehl[6]; 8. 2-Kyle Kirberger[12]; 9. 87-William Moelter[11]; 10. 80-Derek Haas[8]; 11. 13K-Nick Koehler[13]; 12. T25-Mark Thomas[25]; 13. 6-Steve Haas[19]; 14. 19P-Antonio Pintaro[22]; 15. 69-Justin Bassa[21]; 16. 89-Matt Klukas[20]; 17. 13-Derrick Reed[15]; 18. 03X-Bob Carver Jr[7]; 19. (DNF) 23D-Kevin Adams[24]; 20. (DNF) 32LLL-Cody Carlson[17]; 21. (DNF) 7R-Tommy Richards[23]; 22. (DNF) 21-Reese Schlosser[10]; 23. (DNF) 7-Travis Hallquist[14]; 24. (DNF) 31-Jason Vokovan[18]; 25. (DNF) 19-Josh Wahlstrom[9]
B Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 32LLL-Cody Carlson[4]; 2. 6-Steve Haas[1]; 3. 69-Justin Bassa[2]; 4. 7R-Tommy Richards[3]; 5. 63JR-Brady Larson[5]; 6. 75-Joe Neisius[6]; 7. 00-Ross Fuhrman[7]; 8. T25-Mark Thomas[11]; 9. 93-CJ Wagner[10]; 10. 12-Kenny Rogers[8]; 11. (DNS) 04N-Nick Ayotte
B Feature 2 (12 Laps): 1. 31-Jason Vokovan[3]; 2. 89-Matt Klukas[5]; 3. 19P-Antonio Pintaro[9]; 4. 23D-Kevin Adams[11]; 5. 21X-Jake Stai[8]; 6. 33C-Cole Boston[10]; 7. 19H-Kevin Herrman[2]; 8. 58-Dale Suomala Jr[4]; 9. 2B-Ryan Bauer[6]; 10. (DNF) 61-Andrea Keeney[7]; 11. (DNS) 21B-Brandon Jensen
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 68-Shadow Kitchner[2]; 2. R1-Jay Richardson[8]; 3. 2-Kyle Kirberger[4]; 4. QQ-Tony Bahr[6]; 5. 69-Justin Bassa[5]; 6. 7R-Tommy Richards[7]; 7. 58-Dale Suomala Jr[9]; 8. 89-Matt Klukas[10]; 9. 2B-Ryan Bauer[1]; 10. 61-Andrea Keeney[3]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 18S-Kennedy Swan[4]; 2. 80-Derek Haas[1]; 3. 7-Travis Hallquist[3]; 4. 6-Steve Haas[2]; 5. 13K-Nick Koehler[10]; 6. 31-Jason Vokovan[5]; 7. 63JR-Brady Larson[6]; 8. 75-Joe Neisius[9]; 9. 00-Ross Fuhrman[8]; 10. 12-Kenny Rogers[7]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 37-Travis Anderson[1]; 2. 19-Josh Wahlstrom[2]; 3. B37-Cody Borgeson[8]; 4. 03X-Bob Carver Jr[9]; 5. 19H-Kevin Herrman[5]; 6. 21X-Jake Stai[3]; 7. 19P-Antonio Pintaro[6]; 8. 33C-Cole Boston[4]; 9. 23D-Kevin Adams[7]
Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. 2G-Tanner Gehl[1]; 2. 21-Reese Schlosser[2]; 3. 13-Derrick Reed[3]; 4. 87-William Moelter[8]; 5. 21B-Brandon Jensen[7]; 6. 32LLL-Cody Carlson[6]; 7. (DNF) 04N-Nick Ayotte[4]; 8. (DNF) 93-CJ Wagner[9]; 9. (DNF) T25-Mark Thomas[5]
Street Stock Feature (15 Laps): 1. 20-Andrew Hanson[1]; 2. 40-Nick Traynor[4]; 3. 9K-Kolby Kiehl[2]; 4. 18T-Gunnar Watkins[7]; 5. 1R-Cole Richards[14]; 6. 1M-Alex Myers[6]; 7. 24-James Clausen[11]; 8. 79-Joseph Ott[17]; 9. 10B-Dylan Baskin[9]; 10. 66-Eric Haupt[12]; 11. 21D-Shaughn Darling[13]; 12. 19H-Cody Cimfl[5]; 13. 5-Kyle King[15]; 14. (DNF) 42K-Mike Knudtson[8]; 15. (DNF) 84-Hunter VanGilder[16]; 16. (DNF) 3R-Danny Richards[3]; 17. (DNF) 12-Kammron Rose[10]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 9K-Kolby Kiehl[1]; 2. 3R-Danny Richards[4]; 3. 1M-Alex Myers[3]; 4. 18T-Gunnar Watkins[5]; 5. 12-Kammron Rose[6]; 6. 24-James Clausen[7]; 7. (DNS) 1R-Cole Richards; 8. (DNS) 5-Kyle King; 9. (DNS) 79-Joseph Ott
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 20-Andrew Hanson[2]; 2. 40-Nick Traynor[4]; 3. 19H-Cody Cimfl[1]; 4. 42K-Mike Knudtson[5]; 5. 10B-Dylan Baskin[7]; 6. 66-Eric Haupt[6]; 7. (DNF) 21D-Shaughn Darling[3]; 8. (DNS) 84-Hunter VanGilder
